Other mergers and selective disposals of non-core units have helped big paper firms to reshape their operations.

ECONOMIST: Why paper making is becoming less volatile

Sneden wrote the core of it during the war, sketching on scraps of paper and scribbling in the margins of a New Testament, then hiding his work in the soles of his shoes and the seams of his clothing.

FORBES: War Story

International Paper says the acquisition will strengthen its North American and Western European businesses while it prepares its core segments to expand to Asia and Eastern Europe.

FORBES: Temple-Inland Shareholders Weigh Future Of Stock With International Paper Offer

But I think the fundamental argument, which is perfectly sound and perfectly in keeping with both the white paper and the House bill, that we want to try to get banks back to the core function of relating to clients and not taking excess risky activities in the financial system.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

And Nationwide's balance sheet, on paper at least, is stronger than that of any of the big banks, with loss-absorbing core capital equivalent to 12.5% of risk-weighted assets, 2.5 percentage points higher than the banks' capital ratios.

BBC: Will Northern Rock be re-mutualised?

Mine owner Barminco considered the stunt a safety issue and a breach of its "core values of safety, integrity and excellence, " according to a dismissal letter cited by the paper.

NPR: Report: Australian Miners Fired For 'Harlem Shake'